Israel and Hamas have agreed to the first phase of a ceasefire and hostage-prisoner swap under U.S. President Donald Trump’s 20-point peace framework, the parties announced on Thursday after indirect talks in Egypt. This first phase calls for an immediate pause to fighting, the release of Israeli hostages by Hamas, and the partial withdrawal of Israeli forces from Gaza.
This agreement which was reached just a day after the second anniversary of Hamas’s cross-border attack in October 2023, represents a very significant diplomatic breakthrough towards ending the war in Gaza. Inspire of the agreement reached, many critical questions remain unanswered, including Gaza’s future governance, the role of Hamas, and the full implementation timeline.
Trump, who was involved in this progress wrote on Truth Social that “Israel and Hamas have both signed off on the first Phase of our Peace Plan,” adding that “all of the hostages will be released very soon” and “Israel will withdraw their troops” to a pre-agreed line.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu called the accord “a diplomatic success and a national and moral victory for the State of Israel.” However, in his hard-right coalition, there are objections. Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, stated that Hamas must be destroyed once hostages return and that he would oppose a ceasefire deal.
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Hamas, for its part, confirmed that the deal includes a prisoner-hostage exchange, an Israeli withdrawal from Gaza, and humanitarian access into the enclave. It urged guarantor states to press Israel to fully implement the agreement without delay.
Under the deal, Israeli troops are expected to begin pulling back within 24 hours. Hamas are expected to release of the remaining 20 Israeli hostages believed to be alive, over the weekend.
Still, the “20-point framework” involves much more than a ceasefire. Future phases include proposals for a technocratic Palestinian administration in Gaza, international oversight led by Trump and figures such as former British Prime Minister Tony Blair, and reconstruction efforts funded by regional and international partners.
Some major points still remain unsettled. Hamas has rejected demands to disarm outright, Israel seeks guarantees of full withdrawal, and there’s no agreement yet on how Gaza would be governed post-war. Arab nations supporting the deal demand it lead toward Palestinian statehood — something Netanyahu openly opposes.
The next steps include finalizing the prisoner exchange, negotiating the withdrawal timetable, and deciding who will govern Gaza. Israeli and international observers warn that failing to resolve those foundational issues risks unraveling the agreement.